Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLEC01055’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLEC01055’, characterized by its cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; early flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers; and good weather tolerance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar KLEC01055.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEC01055’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the program is to create new early-flowering Calibrachoa cultivars with compact and cascading growth habit, freely branching habit, and attractive flower colors.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross made by the Inventor during the summer of 1998 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa identified as code number P 3, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified proprietary selection of Calibrachoa, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was selected by the Inventor in June, 1999 in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since June, 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar KLEC01055 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, water status and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEC01055’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEC01055’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

1. Cascading plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Early flowering habit.

4. Red purple-colored flowers.

5. Good weather tolerance; tolerant to rain and low and high temperatures.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in flower color. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa have longer internodes and larger flowers than plants of the female parent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘KLEC01055’ grown in a hanging basket container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants grown in 12-cm containers were used for following description. Plants were grown under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions during the fall and winter in Stuttgart, Germany in glass-covered greenhouse. Plants used for the description and the photograph were about five months from planting rooted cuttings. During the production period, day and night temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C. and light levels were about 20,000 lux.

Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar KLEC01055.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as P 3, not patented.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp., not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate and develop roots.—Summer: About 21 days at 20 to 26° C. Winter: About 28 days at 20° C.

Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, well-branched, and white in color.

Plant description:

Form.—Annual flowering plant; initially upright to semi-upright then cascading; uniform flattened mounded appearance.

Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and patio containers.

Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About 6 cm.

Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 70 cm.

Growth rate.—Relatively moderate.

Branching habit.—Freely branching, about 8 to 10 lateral branches per plant; pinching is typically not required.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 35 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Internode length: About 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145B.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and long persisting; sessile. Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 2.5 to 3.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 to 2 cm. Shape: Broadly elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Young and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Young and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Flowers face somewhat upright or outward; single, axillary; salverform. Flowers not persistent. Freely flowering habit, about 5 to 7 open flowers and about 10 to 15 flower buds per lateral stem. Flowers not fragrant.

Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn; flowering continuous.

Time to flower.—Early flowering; plants begin flowering about 12 weeks after planting.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About 7 days.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 3.5 cm. Tube length: About 1.6 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 9 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 2 mm.

Flower buds (before showing color).—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Roughly oblong. Color: 149C.

Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five petals, fused into flared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 1.4 cm. Petal width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape: Roughly spatulate with obtuse apex. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, upper surface, when opening: 74A. Petal, lower surface, when opening: 75A. Petal, upper surface, opened flower: 74B; flower color fading to 74C with subsequent development; venation, 61A. Petal, lower surface, opened flower: 75B; venation, 187A. Flower throat (inside): 61A; venation, 187A. Flower tube (outside): 7A; venation, 187A.

Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals, star-shaped. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Upper surface: 138A. Lower surface: 138B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 to 3 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: Erect to about 75° from vertical. Texture: Glabrous, smooth. Color: 144C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: 11B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 11B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 149A. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 150A. Ovary color: 154A.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been noted to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been noted to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoas.

Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa are tolerant to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate temperatures from 1 to 50° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLEC01055’, as illustrated and described. 